How to unlock Xiaomi phone if you forget your digital password without losing data

Introduction: Why Standard Methods Don't Work

A forgotten password on Xiaomi is a situation that one in five users encounter, and the problem is compounded by the fact that most “universal” instructions on the network suggest resetting the phone to factory settings via Recovery Mode, which inevitably leads to the loss of all data, but there are legal ways to get around the lock without formatting internal memory.

Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi series) use a two-tiered security system: hardware encryption via File-Based Encryption (FBE) and Mi Account binding. This means that even after a hard reset, data can remain encrypted if you don’t know the nuances. In this article, we’ll look at methods that work on devices with MIUI 12-14 and Android 10-14, including models with Qualcomm and MediaTek chips.

It's important to understand that no method has a 100% guarantee of data retention, and success depends on the firmware version, the phone model, and whether features like Find My Device or backup in the Mi Cloud have been previously enabled, but there are chances — and we'll maximize them.

Method 1: Unlocking with Mi Account (official method)

The most reliable and legal way is to use a linked Mi Account, which works if:

• 📱 The phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔑 You remember the username and password from Mi Account that was tied to the device.
• 🔄 Find My Device has been activated in the settings.

Instructions:

1. On the lock screen, tap Forgot password? (or Forgot password? on English firmware).
2. Select the option to Sign in via Mi Account.
3. Enter your email/phone and account password. If two-factor authentication is enabled, confirm your login via SMS or email.
4. Follow the system instructions for resetting the lock screen password.

⚠️ Note: If the phone is not connected to the network, this method will not work, POCO F5 Or the Redmi Note 12 Pro.+) may require additional confirmation through SMS Even with the right password from your Mi Account.

Battery charge > 30% |Stable Internet connection | Login/password from Mi Account at hand | VPN/proxy disabled (can block access)

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Method 2: Use ADB (for USB debugging devices)

If the phone has previously been debugged USB (USB Debugging, you can try to reset your password through ADB (Android Debug Bridge.This method is suitable for advanced users and requires a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-Cable (original or certified).
2. Open the command prompt (cmd on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and type: adb devices Make sure the device is identified (its serial number should appear).
3. Run the command to delete the password: adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key adb shell rm /data/system/password.key adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm
4. Reboot your phone with the command: adb reboot

After the reset, the password should be reset, and if not, try entering any password on the lock screen (e.g., 0000).

⚠️ Attention: On new versions MIUI 14 This method may not work due to enhanced encryption, and it is not suitable for File-Based Encryption devices (FBE), where the data is linked to a password.

Method 3: Unlocking via Fastboot (for devices with unlocked bootloader)

If your Xiaomi has previously unlocked a bootloader (Bootloader Unlocked), you can try to reset your password through Fastboot mode. This method does not guarantee data security, but in some cases allows you to bypass the lock without completely resetting.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume down to log into Fastboot Mode.
3. Connect the device to the PC and open the command line.
4. Enter the command to check the connection: fastboot devices
5. Run a password reset command (not working on all models): fastboot erase userdata Attention! This command can cause data loss, but sometimes leaves files intact.
6. Reboot the phone: fastboot reboot

If you want a password after you restart, try 1234 or 0000. On some firmware, this works.

Yes, it's officially unlocked | Yes, through unofficial methods |No, the bootloader is locked |I don't know what it is.

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Method 4: Recovery through Mi Cloud Backup

If you've synced with Mi Cloud on your phone, you can try to restore data on another device and then move it back, and this method doesn't unlock the phone directly, but it does save important information.

How it works:

• 📱 Take another Xiaomi smartphone (or reset yours to factory settings via Recovery).
• 🔑 Log in to the same Mi Account that was tied to a locked phone.
• 📤 In the account settings, find the Mi Cloud section → Backup and restore the last copy.
• 📥 Copy the files you need (photos, contacts, messages) to your PC or cloud.

After that, you can reset the locked phone through Recovery Mode (Power button). + Volume up) and recover data from backup. This method won't unlock the device without losing data, but it minimizes damage.

⚠️ Note: Backups in Mi Cloud may not contain some data, such as Wi-Fi passwords or app settings, and recovery only works if the new device has the same version. MIUI, as on the blocked.

Method 5: Emergency access through Xiaomi Service Center

If none of these methods work, the official way is to contact Xiaomi's service center, which allows the company to unlock the device, provided that it has proof of ownership.

• 📄 Check or warranty card on the phone.
• 🆔 Passport of the owner (the data must match the check).
• 📧 Access to the email specified when purchasing.

The procedure takes from 3 to 10 days and can be paid (from 1,500 to 5,000 rubles depending on the model), guaranteed data storage is not provided, but the service center uses specialized software that increases the chances of success.

The list of official Xiaomi service centers in Russia can be found on the website mi.com/ru/service/authorize. Before visiting, check by phone whether they are unlocking without losing data – not all centers provide this service.

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Before visiting the service center, take a screenshot of the IMEI phone (on the box or under the battery) and save it.

Comparison of methods: which to choose

To make the choice easier, we have collected the key parameters of each method in the table:

Critical: On devices with a MediaTek chip (e.g. Redmi 10A, POCO M4 Pro), the ADB method almost never works due to the closed bootloader architecture, in which case only the Mi Account or service center remains.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to unlock Xiaomi, users often make critical mistakes that lead to complete data loss.

• 🔌 Interruption of the process ADB/Fastboot. If you turn off your phone from your PC during the execution of commands, it can lead to a brick.
• 🔄 Use of informal firmware. Installation of custom ROM (For example, LineageOS without unlocking the bootloader will lead to blocking the Mi Account.
• 📵 Repeatedly entering the wrong password.In some models, after 5 failed attempts, the phone requires the password from Mi Account, even if it was not tied.
• 🔋 Battery discharge during the process.If the phone turns off while unlocking through Fastboot, it could damage partition /data, making data recovery impossible.

To minimize the risks, always:

• Check the battery (optimally 50% or higher).
• Use the original. USB-cable.
• Disable the antivirus on your PC (it can block ADB).

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If the phone gives an error "This device is locked" when connecting to the ADB, it means that the bootloader is locked, in which case the ADB and Fastboot methods will not work without official unlocking.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions